Shortly after forming, the 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade was redesignated 1st Canadian Armoured Brigade. It took part in 8th British Army’s assault landing on the toe of Italy, Operation Baytown. Both the British 8th Army and the US 5th Army controlled the 1st Brigade at various times, and its formations were often widely scattered during the Italian campaign. Like 1st Canadian Infantry Division and 5th Canadian Armoured Division, 1st Armoured Brigade moved from Italy and joined the Canadian 1st Army at the beginning of 1945.

In its two incarnations as 1st Tank and 1st Armoured, the brigade’s service at Dieppe, in Sicily, Italy, and Northwest Europe earned it the distinction of the longest and widest service of any brigade in the Canadian Army during the war.

Although reorganized as an armoured brigade, no motor battalion served under command.

Organization:

11th Armoured Regiment (The Ontario Regiment)

12th Armoured Regiment (Three Rivers Regiment)

14th Armoured Regiment (The Calgary Regiment)